Story and photos by Jacqueline MundrySYRACUSE N.Y. -- It was a Tar Heel takeover on Sunday afternoon at the SU Soccer Stadium as North Carolina Women's Soccer beat the Orange 3-1 on SU's Senior Day.
#18 North Carolina kept its tournament hopes alive while Syracuse played its last home game of the season.
The Orange women were knocked out of tournament standing Thursday, in the 108th minute when they fell 3-2 at Wake Forest.
Carolina starts strong
The Tar Heels took a quick lead in the 13th minute of the game when Megan Buckingham blasted a shot past Courtney Brosnan. It was her first goal of the season.
North Carolina struck again ten minutes later when Bridgette Andrzejewski got the ball in the net. She also recorded her first goal of the season in Syracuse.
The Orange had to fight back before the end of the first half and did. In the 45th minute, senior forward Stephanie Skilton responded converting a perfect pass from Alana O'Neill.
"Alana did an amazing job." Skilton said, "and I saw the keeper kind of out to the left a little bit so I put it in their post and finished strong."
Tar Heels seal the deal
With a third goal coming in the second half, North Carolina clinched the win.
Andrzejewski scored again in the 54th minute of the game.
Head coach Phil Wheddon said the Orange had opportunities but wasn't aggressive in taking them.
"We've got to be more ruthless and selfish in front of the goal," he said.
Tar Heels goal keeper, Lindsey Harris recorded five saves on the afternoon while SU's Brosnan only had two.
Celebrating seniors
In the last home game of the year, Syracuse celebrates its seniors. This year there were five players honored, Annette Cappellino, Maddie Iozzi, Rebecca Pongetti, Sierra Shafer and Skilton.
Skilton was the lone SU scorer on Senior Day and her dad had traveled all the way from New Zealand for the event.
"I was lucky enough to have both my parents come over this time last year for my 21st birthday," Skilton said. "They saw the Senior Day celebration then and ever since then, Dad's kind of made it his goal to get over here for this year and I'm so proud that I was able to perform well in front of him and yeah, he's my good luck charm."
What's ahead
North Carolina was in sixth place in the ACC before Sunday's game. The Tar Heels' record jumps to 5-2-2 with the tournament still in sight. They will finish their regular season at home on Thursday against Florida State at 7 p.m.
As for the Orange, Wheddon is already looking ahead to next season. The team will finish the regular season at Boston College at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
"Yes I'm disappointed but every team we play pretty much is ranked in the top 20," Wheddon said. "We have another great class coming in next year, a top 20 class."
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